Georgia State 24, Kennesaw State 20
ATLANTA — Dan Ellington threw three touchdown passes, including an 8-yard score to Diondre Champaigne with 41 seconds left, to help Georgia State beat Kennesaw State 24-20 on Thursday night.
 
Kennesaw State, in the program’s fourth season, won 12 straight games last season and reached the FCS quarterfinals. Its campus is located 25 miles from the Georgia State Stadium.
 
Ellington’s game-winning toss capped a nine-play, 73-yard drive. Ellington threw a 3-yard score to Penny Hart with 50 seconds left in the first half and added a 9-yard scoring toss to Christian Owens to tie it at 14 before halftime following DeAndre Applin’s interception.
 
Justin Thompson made two second-half field goals and the Owls led 20-14 late in the third quarter. Chandler Burks finished 12-of-19 passing for 201 yards with one touchdown.
 
ULM 34, Southeastern Louisiana 31
MONROE, La. —Caleb Evans threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns and scored the game-winner late on the ground and ULM avoided an upset bid against Southeastern Louisiana 34-31 Thursday night.
 
In the season opener for both, Evans ran it in from 11 yards out on a quarterback draw with 37 seconds left then ran in the two-point conversion. But on their final drive, the Lions drove 55 yards to set up a 37-yard field-goal attempt by Jonathan Tatum which was blocked by Cal Kee III as time expired. Southeastern Louisiana fell to 0-23 against FBS opponents since the program was revived 15 years ago.
 
Chason Virgil threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns for the Lions and Juwan Petit-Frere caught five passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. For the Warhawks, Derrick Gore had 21 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. For his part, Evans recorded his eighth career game throwing for more than 200 yards.
 
ULM outgained Southeastern Louisiana in total yardage 554-437.